Cameron Diaz and her family have paid tribute to the star’s late father Emilio - calling him an "amazing" dad.

Emilio Diaz died suddenly last Tuesday, aged 58, after a bout of influenza developed into pneumonia, and the Hollywood actress led mourners at a memorial service for him in California on Saturday.

And now the Diaz family have issued a new statement to People.com, praising Emilio’s lust for life.

It reads, "His love for laughter was undeniable and he embraced life head-on in such a dynamic way that he was impossible to forget.

"As a family, it is almost impossible to put into words how amazing Emilio was. The one thing that was a certainty with Emilio was that you always knew where you stood with him. He was so honest and always spoke his mind."

The Diazs go on to give thanks for Emilio’s love for his wife Billie and their two daughters Cameron, 35, and Chimene, 37.

They add, "He often said that his greatest accomplishment was raising two people that were better human beings than he was. He was devoted to each family member equally and was proud of the accomplishments they all made."